Batten Down The Hatches

It looks as though, in spite of our best efforts to keep it from happening, Congress is going to start messing with Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. If anyone believes that seniors and the poor will be better off when the dust clears, I have some swamp land I'd love to sell him/her.

Various Republicans have appeared on television lately, claiming that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are a drain on the deficit because they are unfunded.

Wrong, on both counts. The only thing unfunded about them is the Medicare Part D Prescription plan that was passed by Republicans during the Bush Administration.The entitlements have never affected the deficit because they are self-funded. Social Security has never been counted in determining the deficit. Why must the Republicans keep telling this lie? And, why doesn't someone in the Media correct them?

This is the first year that Social security has suffered any kind of shortfall, and it wasn't much of one.

It is amazing to me that so many people in this country want to blame the elderly and poor for the country's financial problems. And, now, they want to punish them by cutting back on the only safety net they have. I can't think of any good reason for this attitude except that they are simply mean-spirited and lacking in compassion for those less fortunate.

Personally, I think if we can bail out the banks and auto industry while conducting two wars, we ought to be able to bail out Social Security. The Veterans' Administration could stand a little help in that way, too.

Where are the Grey Panthers when we need them?

Say tuned.